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| From the third to the tenth centuries, China underwent multiple periods of fragmentation as well as intermittent phases of unity. Each individual power or established state labored to nurture and develop its economic independence during times of division. Myriad industries of art and craft production were born. Out of the resulting rise of the commercial structure, overall prosperity was achieved. Furthermore, tribes from neighboring steppes gradually trickled into the heartland. They not only brought their indigenous cultural practices, but also local religious customs. With new surging waves of influence, local art production grew rich and varied in technical expertise and aesthetic forms. Though plagued with political unrest and martial discord, this was paradoxically also a time when innovative elements coalesced to ultimately create surprising innovative forms of fusion. Such phenomena came together during the unified ages of the Sui (581-618) and T'ang (618-907) dynasties, with the end product being thrilling, bold, and energetic new art forms. The breakup of the T'ang dynasty heralded the highly fragmented period of the Five Dynasties (907-960), followed thereafter by unification under the Sung dynasty. |
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